$35M worth of Pot sold in February

Legal sales of recreational cannabis were high in February, which was mostly driven by visitor purchases from out of state even with two fewer shopping days. The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation has reported on Wednesday that the state dispensaries has sold about $34.8 million worth of weed last month.

February figures couldn’t match that of January as the first month of the new decade recorded $39.2 million worth of sales. The Illinois residents had bought $25.6 million while out of state visitors bought $9.2 million rising from $8.6 million from the previous month. The Leap year made it 29 sale days but some of the dispensaries had to put a sales-limit with shortages as cultivation sites ramp up to meet legal demand even while prioritizing medical-marijuana patients.

Toi Hutchinson, senior adviser for cannabis control to Gov. Pritzker, said: “These numbers show there continues to be a strong demand across the state as the most equity-centric cannabis program in the country moves forward in Illinois.” She added, “As the adult-use cannabis industry continues to grow, so will the number of opportunities for consumers and entrepreneurs alike — especially those from communities who suffered the most during the failed war on drugs.”

The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation pointed out that the Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for cannabis-infuser, craft-grower, and transporter licenses through March 16. The priority will be given to social-equity applicants that have suffered most in the War of Drugs.

The accepted applicants will be given technical assistance, grants, low-interest loans, and fee reductions and waivers for eligible applicants. You can get the applications online. The Department of Commerce and the Agriculture Department has teamed up on outreach programs including statewide workshops.